A fresh attempt to have the biggest raft-up of sailing vessels in history is to be made at the end of August after an effort last weekend managed to attract only 66 boats, yachts and kayaks instead of the hoped for 2,000.

Bad weather marred the day and has been put down as one of the reasons why there was not the necessary turn-out for the world record-breaking attempt.

The event had previously been postponed on two occasions but organiser Rod Ferguson decided to go ahead on Sunday after weather forecasts earlier in the week had suggested favourable conditions.

As it turned out the Island was hit by a number of heavy downpours throughout the day and it soon became evident that the attempt to create a half-mile line of boats, yachts, kayaks, punts and jetskis roped together off North Shore was not going to challenge the record which stands at 1,340 vessels and is currently held by the US.

But the arrival of 66 assorted boats and other watercraft did allow for a test-run of the record attempt and gave Mr. Ferguson a chance to see some of the problems that may occur when the hoped for 2,000-participant raft-up takes place.

It became clear that manoeuvring small groups of boats already rafted up was a trickier and more time-consuming process than had been anticipated.

Although disappointed by the turn-out, Mr. Ferguson remains upbeat that the record attempt will be more successful on the new date of August 27.

He said those who had taken part had enjoyed themselves and made new friends with the others who came along and linked their boats.

And he is hoping the Department of Tourism will get involved with some support, and that the non-appearance of some of the larger groups such as 38 boats which had been expected from Sandys Boat Club, will be avoided on the re-arranged record attempt.

One thing that is going well is the sale of the record attempt baseball hats for $50.

Each boat that takes part is requested to buy one of the hats with the proceeds going to three charities, PALS, Bermuda Diabetes Association and the SPCA. Mr. Ferguson said: "We are getting the event committee back together for a de-brief.

"We are sure that we at least broke the Bermudian record for a raft-up and everyone who was there had some laughs and enjoyed themselves."